October 20, 2016
Employees and owners from six marijuana dispensaries have pleaded guilty to Planning Act and Licensing By-law charges arising from the May 26, 2016 enforcement efforts of the Toronto Police Service in partnership with the Municipal Licensing and Standards Division.
Following guilty pleas and convictions, the Ontario Court of Justice has imposed sentences of between $1,000 for an employee and $4,000 for a dispensary owner. In addition, the Courts have imposed Prohibition Orders under the Planning Act and the City of Toronto Act, Probation Orders under the Provincial Offences Act, and Closing Orders under the City of Toronto Act.
The Closing Order means that the property location is immediately closed "for any business use involving the sale of any form of edible marijuana foodstuffs intended for human consumption" for up to two years. The fines are designed to deter repeat offences and ensure that the defendants do not reopen or continue to work at the marijuana dispensaries that are illegal in Toronto.
Residents, local Business Improvement Areas and other community leaders have been expressing their concern about the illegal storefront marijuana dispensaries over the last number of months.
The City continues to investigate and take enforcement action against owners, operators and employees of these illegal marijuana dispensaries, as well as property owners where the dispensaries are located. There are 210 charges currently before the courts.
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.
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Media contacts: Tammy Robbinson, Strategic Communications, 416-338-3761, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
